The Internet of Things is an emerging technology that empowers the transportation sector to help them make more informed and accurate decisions. It is significantly helping curb the traffic flows by providing the drivers with route optimization facilities, real-time traffic updates, etc.
IoT utilizes sensor devices to collect data information about the vehicle, considering every aspect such as fuel, tire condition, tire pressure, shortest route, speed limits, and many more. This data is useful for the fleet managers to make future improvements and take accurate decisions.
In the logistics industry, goods trading has become much easier and safer with the incoming of IoT-powered fleet monitoring solution in the transportation industry. Within 7 years, the IoT market is expected to reach $328 billion from $135 billion, supplying smart transportation techniques all over the globe.
Fleet Monitoring Solution
With technological acceptance in the trucking industry, IoT is offering huge benefits through smart concepts. One of such concepts is a fleet monitoring solution that minimizes the responsibilities of fleet managers through automation. With the help of this solution, the fleet authorities can
• Interpret shortest routes
• Enable faster deliveries
• Real-time vehicle location
• Cargo/trailer safety
• Ensure driver safety
An IoT-powered fleet monitoring system helps the drivers in keeping up with the latest updates regarding the traffic congestion or flow on a specific route so that they can alter their route choices for quick deliveries. Also, it helps in analyzing the real-time weight of the trailer during the transit to avoid unnecessary fines.
How Does a Fleet Monitoring System Operate?
Implementing a fleet monitoring system means your trucks are equipped with the latest weight measurement and location tracking sensors. These sensors get installed on your truck axles that detect the real-time cargo weight inside the trucks. The accurate weight measurement is calculated and displayed via specific IoT application dashboard on your smart gadget (mobile, desktop, tablet).
Interestingly, it is an end-to-end solution that allows the managers to operate all the fleet activities from one single screen, thus avoiding the hassle of handling multiple devices for each fleet operation. The IoT application provides real-time location and weight of every truck for effective productivity and delivery updates. Apart from this, here are some essential features of a fleet monitoring solution:
Route Management:
Managing the routes seems a very difficult task for the fleet managers and drivers that also hampers the delivery schedule of the cargo. With the help of an IoT-powered fleet monitoring solution, the fleet operators can automate the trip planning for the drivers. It offers proper route management with the help of GPS-tracking facilities along with real-time location tracking of the vehicle. It is a sensor-enabled system that uses route optimization algorithms to identify correct and shortest routes for on-time deliveries.
Real-time Location Updates:
The transportation industry mainly works with GPS and location updates, where the fleet managers have accurate information about the products being transited. This allows them to store live updates of the vehicles and use this data for future analysis. Fleet monitoring solution uses the latest and certified location tracking sensors to monitor real-time information of the vehicles. Moreover, this solution helps you see the complete location history of any vehicle from your fleet on one single platform.
Trailer Weight Measurement:
Measuring the weight of the trailer/truck is the most important aspect of goods transportation. IoT has certainly replaced the traditional ways of measuring the truck loads and enabled real-time weight measurements even when the vehicle is on the move. It helps in preventing unnecessary fines due to truck overloading. It is thus, a mandatory system that enables effective transit operations with improved cargo safety.
Advanced Analytics:
The Internet of Things complies of advanced analytics to analyze all the possible risks involved concerning driver safety, vehicle usage, fleet productivity, and future maintenance. Using an IoT-powered fleet monitoring solution you can now store essential vehicle data on a cloud-storage platform and analyze it further to take improved decisions. Also, the use of advanced analytics helps gain futuristic information regarding the vehicle's condition that minimizes the on-road risks during transportation.
Last Mile Delivery:
Communication is the key to carry out effective operations in the transportation industry. For instance, if there is a sudden change in the transit schedule, it is important for the managers, drivers, and customers to stay in sync with accurate information. The fleet monitoring solution offers a better communication network by providing real-time updates regarding any schedule changes to execute the last-mile delivery effectively.
Geofencing:
The fleet monitoring system uses an advanced fencing method, called geofencing, that immediately updates the managers as soon as the vehicle enters or exits the industrial premises. It involves a proximate range of distance within which a vehicle enters or exits and the alert is generated on the dashboard of the fleet manager. Also, the solution is scalable and customizable to create as many geofences of your choice and any shape, range, or size.
Customized Reports:
Managing a fleet transportation system includes multiple sites at different locations along with the vehicle’s information in every fleet. With the help of IoT-powered fleet monitoring system, it is easier to know the accurate amount of time that your vehicle had spent during transporting, loading, and unloading stuff at every site. It also generates regular reports of the driver’s duty timings, driving patterns, total working hours, and fuel consumption for you to analyze every area for effective fleet management.
The Internet of Things is the new driver of transportation and fleet activities. It is a great technology, which uses internet benefits to allow improved transit operations in the logistics sector. One of its effective solutions is the fleet monitoring solution that holds high-end facilities for the fleet managers, allowing them to effectively manage their fleet business. Be it managing a cargo/trailer, maintaining a vehicle, optimizing the routes, collect and store important data; this solution does it all. You can leverage huge benefits by implementing a fleet monitoring system with your transportation business and plan out other different prospects for improved and safe transportation activities.
